US 11,945,578 B2
Apparatus and methods for limiting trailing edge deflection in aircraft folding wing tips
Jeffrey Michael Olds, Seattle, WA (US); Eric George Gruner, Seattle, WA (US); Billy P. Tung, Seattle, WA (US); and Eric Dwight Blohm, Bellevue, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/504,074.
Prior Publication US 2023/0118630 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 3/56 (2006.01); B64C 3/54 (2006.01); B64C 23/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/56 (2013.01) [B64C 3/54 (2013.01); B64C 3/546 (2013.01); B64C 23/069 (2017.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft wing comprising:
a fixed wing portion, the fixed wing portion including an outboard rib along an outboard side of the fixed wing portion; and
a wing tip moveably coupled to the fixed wing portion about a hinge axis, the wing tip moveable between an extended position and a folded position, the wing tip including:
an inboard rib along an inboard side of the wing tip, the inboard rib disposed in a trailing edge section of the wing tip, the inboard rib having an inboard top flange, a bottom flange, and an inboard web coupled between the inboard top flange and the bottom flange;
an upper panel coupled to a top side of the inboard top flange, an aft edge of the upper panel forming a trailing edge of the wing tip; and
a stop plate coupled to a bottom side of the inboard top flange of the inboard rib, the stop plate extending inboard from the inboard rib such that when the wing tip is in the extended position, the stop plate is disposed below a portion of the outboard rib of the fixed wing portion to limit upward deflection of the trailing edge section of the wing tip relative to the fixed wing portion, the stop plate coupled to the inboard top flange via one or more fasteners extending through the upper panel, the inboard top flange, and the stop plate.
 
9. An aircraft wing comprising:
a fixed wing portion, the fixed wing portion including:
an outboard rib along an outboard side of the fixed wing portion, the outboard rib having an outboard top flange and an outboard web coupled to the outboard top flange;
a rub strip coupled to a bottom side of the outboard top flange of the outboard rib, wherein the rub strip does not extend outboard of the outboard top flange;
a wing tip moveably coupled to the fixed wing portion about a hinge axis, the wing tip moveable between an extended position and a folded position, the wing tip including:
an inboard rib along an inboard side of the wing tip, the inboard rib disposed in a trailing edge section of the wing tip; and
a stop plate coupled to the inboard rib, the stop plate extending inboard from the inboard rib such that when the wing tip is in the extended position, the stop plate is disposed below a portion of the outboard rib of the fixed wing portion to limit upward deflection of the trailing edge section of the wing tip relative to the fixed wing portion.